Aeroponics is the process of growing plants in an air or mist environment without the use of soil or an aggregate medium. Aeroponic culture differs from both hydropnics and in-vitro (plant tissue culture) growing. Unlike hydroponics, which uses water as a growing medium and essential minerals to sustain plant growth, areoponics is conducted without a growing medium.

The word “Aeroponic” is derived from the Greek meanings of  ‘aero’ (air) and ‘ponic’ (labor). Aeroponic growth refers to growth achieved in an air culture. For example, in tropical climates orchids develop and grow freely in trees. Laboratory research on air culture growing utilizing vapors began in the mid-1940s. Today aeroponics is used in agriculture around the world.

Aeroponics is an exciting improvement on hydroponics that has been shown to greatly increase yields. The growing environment is similar to a misty rain forest. In Hawaii, orchids are often seen growing freely in the trees due to the level of humidity in the air. Aeroponics strives to recreate this environment at the root zone.

In an aeroponic system the plant’s root zone is suspended into an environment where the roots protrude into an atomized nutrient solution; the leaves and crown, often called the “canopy”, extending above. The roots of the plant are separated by the plant support structure. The lowest stem and root system are sprayed or misted for short durations with a hydro-atomized pure water/nutrient solution. The sprayers break the nutrient into small particles and saturate the roots. The levels of oxygen in the water are kept high by the constant circulation of the water.

Aeroponic growing is considered to be safe and ecologically friendly for producing natural, healthy plants and crops. The main ecological advantages of aeroponics are the conservation of water and energy. When compared to hydroponics, aeroponics offers lower water and energy inputs per sq meter of growing area. Hydroponics, when used commercially, uses one-tenth of the water otherwise necessary to grow the crop, but this can be reduced to as little as 1/20.

Aeroponics is beyond the age we are in now, it is in the space age! Aeroponics’ techniques are being investigated by NASA.

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